Websites that are worth going to

   Hello again everyone! You might be thinking," Why is she posting again so soon? This isn't normal. She never posts so much in one month!" And yes this is not normal. However, I felt a need to tell you some good websites to go and I know y'all have been waiting to hear what's up in my life. :)
 
   Well, I'll start with the websites. There are so many on the web not worth your time. And then, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, like myself, so many of them are blaspheming Jesus and others display awful words or pictures that totally go against our beliefs and standards. Not only that but also there are some websites which I support fully but I wonder if other Christians know of them? So, listed below are my top nine websites! (Sorry, I couldn't think of another one to make ten, but if I did it would probably be dictionary.com.) The first six are owned by Christians but the rest, that I know of, are not.

1. www.worldviewweekend.com
2. www.pluggedin.com
3. www.christianaction.org
4. www.christianministriesintl.org
5. www.noiseofthunder.com
6. http://www.creationtoday.org/
7. www.shutterfly.com
8. www.allrecipes.com
9. http://www.cremedelacraft.com


   Lately, I've been mailing out some Christmas cards, making buckeyes, watching a lot of Christmas movies, doing writing assignments, finishing up my brother's art class, and cleaning the house top to bottom. If I had to choose one thing I was good at, it would be cleaning. Either cleaning or maybe writing. Just yesterday, I got some advice and very good critiques which I know will help a ton! The person also gave me a lot of encouragement which meant a lot to me because she is currently an English teacher at a college and her daughter is an English major. Getting praise from an expert in writing is different than getting praise from a family member or loved one. I'm just glad someone actually enjoys reading my work!

Hope y'all have a merry Christmas and "God bless us everyone"! :)

Brookie

Giveaway Contest!

Here is the website of the giveaway!
http://emilys-ponderings.blogspot.com/

Hope you all have a great day!

Brookie

Opening up my Imagination...I hope

"Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." 
    ~Psalm 150: 6

   And that is my greeting this chilly December day! Praise the Lord our God for everything He has done! We are minuscule compared to His awesome power and grace! Only through the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross are we transformed a new creation in Christ! I pray that you all will remember Christ this season. It is because of Him that we even celebrate Christmas at all!
    
   Recently, I enrolled for an "enrichment" course on creative writing which will start on Wednesday. Despite my many years of writing experience, I think it will be best to first start off with a beginner's course and let others criticize my work before I check it off as perfect. Although you may find it perfect, there will always be somebody who thinks otherwise. I hope I'll do well and learn something that could further improve my writing. 

   But y'all don't read my blog to hear about my life. (And if you do, you gotta let me know!) So here is a 20 question Christmas trivia quiz to do! If you want to find the answers, you'll have to google it! But we google everything these days so that's no biggie.

1) What did Pierce Egan add to the basic eggnog recipe when he created a variation of eggnog called "Tom and Jerry."
a. 2 tablespoons of vanilla ice cream
b. 1/2 oz of brandy
c. 1/2 oz of whiskey
d. 3 tablespoons of cream

2) In what year did the US postal System issue its first Christmas stamp?
a. 1942
b. 1952
c. 1962
d. 1972

3) How many times is the name Santa Clause used in "the Night Before Christmas"?
a. 0
b. 2
c. 5
d. 7

4) What two reindeer are mentioned in the song "Here Comes Santa Claus"?
a. Dancer and Prancer
b. Donder and Blixen
c. Vixen and Blixen
d. Comet and Cupid

5) What country started the gift exchange tradition?
a. Italy
b. The Netherlands
c. Greece
d. Israel

6) In "Gift of the Magi", how much did Della get for her hair?
a. $10
b. $17
c. $20
d. $21

7) Who wrote "The Night Before Christmas"?
a. Peter Collington
b. Clement Moore
c. Chris Van Allsburg
d. Raymond Briggs

8) What was the first artificial tree made of?
a. Glass
b. Plastic
c. Feathers
d. Silk

9) What musical instrument was "Silent Night" first played on?
a. Guitar
b. Organ
c. Flute
d. Harp

10) Which of the following names was not considered for Tiny Tim's character in "A Christmas Carol"?
a. Little Larry
b. Puny Pete
c. Small Sam
d. Wee Willie

11) What is Santa's name in Holland?
a. Father Christmas
b. Grandfather Frost
c. St. Nicholas
d. Christkind

12) In what country was the first Christmas card created?
a. France
b. Germany
c. Spain
d. England

13) In what country was the poinsettia first grown and known as "Flower of the Holy Night"?
a. Canada
b. Mexico
c. Greece
d. Egypt

14) In what country did the real St. Nicholas live?
a. Denmark
b. The Netherlands
c. Bulgaria
d. Turkey

15) In what ocean can you find Christmas Island?
a. Indian Ocean
b. Arctic Ocean
c. Atlantic Ocean
d. Pacific Ocean

16) Which US state was the first to recognize Christmas as an offical holiday?
a. New York
b. Alabama
c. Virginia
d. Pennsylvania

17) In "It's a Wonderful Life," what is the angel's first name?
a. Clarence
b. Samuel
c. William
d. Stanley

18) What are hot cockles?
a. A Christmas beverage
b. A Christmas pastry
c. A Christmas game
d. A Christmas decoration

19) If you were to receive all of the gifts in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas," how many gifts would you receive?
a. 144
b. 284
c. 364
d. 424

20) In what European country is "The Nutcracker" set?
a. Germany
b. Russia
c. Poland
d. Denmark 

Have a Merry Christmas!

Brookie

Thanksgiving Post

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."
   ~1 Chronicles 16:34

     As all of you know, this past Thursday was Thanksgiving. But so many people forget the true meaning of the celebration. Lately, I've heard it be called Turkey day or T-day but both these names leave out what the day should be about. Sure, there's nothing wrong with eating turkey or watching football, as long as we are all giving thanks to God for all He has done and provided for us. I truly hope all of you remembered to be thankful and give God the praise and the glory for the great things He has done! 

     Today, I'll just give a recipe for a great dish we had at our Thanksgiving meal. I recommend it for any kind of celebration and to also fill up those at the table with bottom-less pits. Note: From allrecipes.com

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

4 large baking potatoes
8 slices of bacon
1 cup of sour cream
1/2 cup of milk
4 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, divided
8 green onions, sliced, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
4. When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
5. Bake for another 15 minutes.

Hope you all have a blessed day!

Brookie

Moving the Photography

If any of you fellow readers love/enjoy my photography, I will be making a specific blog for them. The website url is www.snapsbybrookie.blogspot.com

Thank you for reading and please be praying for the Sandy victims,
Brookie

Veggie Tales and Remembering a Promise

           This morning, after I finished packing some clothes for my big trip this week, I decided to watch a veggie tales movie before I moved on to other tasks of the day. If some of you do not know, Veggie Tales are delightful cartoons of vegetables created by Focus on the Family to teach children biblical lessons and stories from the bible. The one I watched this morning was Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella. 

          At first, I thought it was rather silly since umbrellas weren't in the bible, let alone invented. But, despite this, the message of the cartoon was that although others may laugh at you for doing things such as saying prayers before you eat or singing a song about the bible is that to not think of what others say or do but to want to please God instead. In Acts 4:19 Peter says,"Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." 
               
           This message is not only for children but also for adults. Many Christians are too ashamed or embarrassed to profess their faith because of what they fear what others would think of them. But who should we want to please more? God or man?

            For the rest of my post, it will be a continuation of a story I had promised to show some more long ago. So with further ado, here is the rest of the first chapter. 
(If you think it is rather silly, I am sorry. I wrote this about three years ago so I might have to change it in a few places. And there is more of this story. I had wrote about 8 or 9 chapters.)

“Goodness child!” she yelled in surprise as she stared at Abigail’s feet, “no young lady should be prancing around in the mud in bare feet!” “I’m sorry,” Abigail replied back cordially,” but you know how much I love to feel the grass under my feet.”

“That is true, my dear” she said warmly and gave her a quick embrace,” but when you were off you forgot to eat your breakfast! No one should start their day without a good ol’ bowl of oats.” Abigail nodded in agreement and accepted the bowl of warm cinnamon oatmeal. “Thank you, mama,” she said between mouthfuls. Her mother gave her a, “You’re welcome” and went back to taking care of her quaint flower bed. With a picturesque smile, Abigail skipped merrily underneath an old pear tree and sat down. 

She set all her art supplies at the stump and put her portrait under the tree carefully so it could dry. After she was done wither precious art pieces, she said her grace and began to eat her oatmeal when all of a sudden a pear landed right on her outstretched legs. She looked up to see a young boy with a mischievous grin sitting above her. His thick golden blonde hair was ruffled, almost covering his hazel green eyes. “Hi’ya Abbey!” he said with a smile as he jumped down next to her. He leaned his head back on the tree and plopped a handful of blueberries into his mouth.

          

          “So how are you, Will?” Abigail asked as he finished munching on his berries. “Mighty fine so far, Abbey, just wish your momma would give me a big bowl of that oatmeal!” he replied back as he stared hungrily at her food. “Sorry, pal, but these were meant for me and only me. Besides, you probably already had three breakfasts so far,” Abbey said with a snicker,” but any who, did you bring the paints?” He gave her a puppy dog, look but as it never worked on her; he gave a sigh and pulled out a small blue sack with a ribbon tied around it. 

            

            “You know, these are mighty hard to come by. I would only get them for someone who was mighty close to my heart.” Abigail did not hear the ending of his sentence, but was excitedly opening up the bag to find all kinds of vibrant colors.  “Oh Will!” she gasped in surprise, “these are just what I have been needing!” There were about twenty paints in all of blues, whites, purples, reds, and every other color under the sun.

         

           “Anything for you Abbey,” he said as he scooted closer to her. Now, Abigail was a young girl and not knowledgeable in the art of love. She always viewed boys as friends, nothing more. So naturally, she took this action as brotherly affection and did not bother to think any more of this spontaneous feat. That day was to be the first of her learning what love is. As she chatted away with her friend under the pear tree, a young vagabond came walking towards them.

Will immediately jumped up in front of Abbey, ready to defend her for life or death. The young man looked at him in surprise and gave a bow. He had dark brown hair and his grey eyes appeared friendly to the young Abigail. “Will, wait,” she said as she stood next to him and put her hand on his arm. ‘No, Abbey! Haven’t you heard of the stories lately of kidnappings and robberies?! I’m not taking any chances with this hobo!” He then lunged at the man but the vagabond moved swiftly and held Will’s arm behind his back which caused him to cry out in pain. “Will!” Abigail gasped as she ran up to them. She looked at the man’s eyes and he looked into hers. 

“I just want to talk, ma’am, that’s all,” he said respectfully. She stared at him for a while, not exactly sure what to do. Something about him was different, and she trusted her instincts. “Alright, I will talk just please let my friend go,” she said calmly. He then let a frustrated Will go, who was about to lunge again, until Abbey convinced him not to until they knew what he wanted. He then calmed down, but gave the man a look of a mad dog.

 “What do you want?” she asked him. He cleared his throat and began,” Well, I have been traveling for an awfully long time and I just want to settle down a bit. The only problem is, I need a job and lately no one has been kind as you have to just listen to my two cents. Is there anything around here that I can help you folks with until I get back on my feet? You don’t have to pay me money or anything, just a roof over my head and food for my tummy.” Abigail stood there, pondering.

“Not a chance! Just look at this guy! He’s bad news, Abigail; I don’t trust him for a second!” Will grumbled. “But you do not know anything about the man, and besides, he just wants a job and a place to stay until he can get up on his own, please just watch him so I can go get momma out here,” she said to him in a tender soft voice.  Her pleading looks and gentle voice calmed Will down as he whispered back, “Fine, but be quick.” With that Abbey ran away from the two men and went to her momma inside of the house. She was actually napping in a rocking chair and Abigail woke her up and dragged her outside. On the way to the where she was, she explained everything to her momma. 

Exclamations of “Goodness Gracious”, “Mercies Alive”, and the occasional gasp are what Abigail’s momma uttered throughout the whole story. When she finished, her momma looked her in the eye and she said,” You did the right thing for getting me, sugar. You just stand by Will and I will talk to this young man.” When she said this, Abigail just walked up to Will and watched as her momma walked to the young man. She stared him down for a moment, and then all of a sudden she started cheering which made Abigail and Will turn their heads to her. “Abigail, this is none other than Peter Bloom!” she said as she gave the man a hug. “Do I know him momma?” Abigail asked with confusion. “Do you know him, by golly you couldn't have! You were only four years old when he and his family moved! Speaking of which, how is your ma and pa?” 

The young man was watching her in surprise too, not sure what to do or think. He looked at his feet for a moment with a sad look on his countenance and then glanced up at each one of them. He then replied,” They died, seven years ago from a fire. How do you know me and my family, ma’am?” Abigail watched her momma as she became very solemn with what he had said,” Oh, you poor child! I will tell you all about it once I get you to sit down and eat a bowl of oatmeal,” she said lovingly as she led him to the house. Abigail walked behind him, not sure what to think or do but watched in silence. “I still don’t like him, Abbey. Not at all,” Will said to her in a sharp tone. They continued to walk to the house, with Abbey’s forgotten oatmeal still under the pear tree.

And that is the end of the first chapter! Stay tuned for my next segment, which I might forget to post soon so I'm going to go ahead and say I'm sorry if that does happen.

Thank you for reading and I hope you all a blessed day! :)
Brookie

Branson here I come!

Hello everyone! Sorry for the slow posts but I just seem to never be able to find times to blog so I apologize to you all. Today, I'll be talking about my favorite city in the U.S.: Branson, MO! Here are some interesting facts about Missouri:

1) Missouri is known as the "Show Me State".
2) The 'Show Me State' expression may have began in 1899 when Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, "I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."
3) The first successful parachute jump to be made from a moving airplane was made by Captain Berry at St. Louis, in 1912.
4) The most destructive tornado on record occurred in Annapolis. In 3 hours, it tore through the town on March 18, 1925 leaving a 980-foot wide trail of demolished buildings, uprooted trees, and overturned cars. It left 823 people dead and almost 3,000 injured.
5) At the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, Richard Blechyden, served tea with ice and invented iced tea.
6) Also, at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, the ice cream cone was invented. An ice cream vendor ran out of cups and asked a waffle vendor to help by rolling up waffles to hold ice cream.
7) The state animal is the Mule.
8) Laura Elizabeth Ingalls, writer of Little House on the Prairie grew up in Missouri.
9) In 1865 Missouri became the first slave state to free its slaves.
10) During Abraham Lincoln's campaign for the presidency, a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat named Valentine Tapley from Pike County, Missouri, swore that he would never shave again if Abe were elected. Tapley kept his word and his chin whiskers went unshorn from November 1860 until he died in 1910, attaining a length of twelve feet six inches.

I just absolutely love Missouri, especially the Ozarks! If you ever want to go on a fun and family friendly vacation, Branson is the place to go! (And is also where I'll be next week!)

Have a blessed day, 
Brookie

Note: the above 10 facts are from http://www.50states.com/facts/mo.htm#.UHSKOk3A9dc

Goodness gracious it has been a long time!

     Hello readers! Sorry it has been so long since I've last wrote but truthfully I've just been really busy. Hanging out with friends, babysitting, and now figuring out how to make some income on eBay. We had a rocky start at first with eBay but now I can say I believe we are getting the hang of it! If you would like to buy something from me, visit http://myworld.ebay.com/foreverwriting2352. 

     However I must warn you we are only selling women's clothes and shoes right now. And also this weekend I get to take care of a Yorkie named Snuggles! Adorable, right? Well I hope she will be well behaved. 
    Anyways, I have been daily reminded of a verse found in Proverbs which reads, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Actually it is two verses but that is beside the point. I know the Lord has really been tugging at my heart with these verses and I'm doing my best to lay my worries and fears in the Lord's hands. I just wish it wasn't so hard.
     Well that's all I have to say, so hope you have a blessed day!
Brookie

A Mash-Up of My Favorite Desserts

For today, I have decided to make my own dessert concoction. I know there are many recipes out there similar to this, but I believe mine is one of the bests! Try it out and see if you agree :)

Chocolate Chip, Nutella, and Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwiches 

Hands-on: 15 minutes
Total: 1.5 hour (Includes chilling time)
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
8 Chips ahoy chocolate chip cookies
A container of Breyers Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (you do not use the whole container)
A container of Nutella Hazelnut Spread (you do not use the whole container)
Cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
1) Arrange 4 cookies flat side up in a single layer. Spread the Nutella Hazelnut Spread on four of the eight sides. Sprinkle cinnamon on the Nutella sides if desired. Then spread the vanilla ice cream and combine both cookies into a sandwich. (Warning: This part is slightly messy however it is okay if the cookie does not look perfect)
2) Wrap the cookies in plastic and freeze for at least 1 hour.

And that is it! After the hour is up, devour those cookie sandwiches and lick your fingers to finish it off!
Have a blessed day,
Brookie

Growing Nature's Candy in the Backyard

In the last four years, my family has had a garden. However I have to say that this year we have finally perfected a system that suits our area and all of our tastebuds. (Except my brother of course. Hopefully next year he'll start enjoying something from the garden.) On the left column we have one cherry tomato plant, three spinach (the spinach were doing wonderful until the beginning of June. They do not do well under constant sunlight), one bell pepper plant, and three squash plants. On the right column we have about five zucchini plants, maybe one more squash plant, and one cayenne pepper plant. Just recently, about three or four weeks ago, we added a middle column. In that column we have green bean plants and a sweet potato plant. So far the green bean plants are standing five inches tall but are not producing anything yet. I really hope the sweet potato plant comes out great, because here in the south sweet potato yams are a delicacy. :)      

If you live in the states of Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi; I know these plants will grow exceedingly well in your backyards! Ask your local nursery or garden centers what kind of plants grow best in your area.

Hope you all have a blessed week!
Brookie

Crazy Life and Good Food

Hey y'all! Sorry it's been a while since I last posted but I did warn you all about that a while back. Anyways, I just graduated from high school and am now an official adult! Woo Hoo! I also went to my cousin's graduation, celebrated a birthday, and currently watching over a little three year old boy take all my books off the bookshelf. Lovely. His name is Logan and he is an adorable mess. He looks like he'll grow up to be a surfer with his long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He is completely fascinated by airplanes, cars, boats, tractors; anything with an engine. He believes everything he sees is his, including my iPad and keys, and is a giant mess bomb just waiting to happen. And his favorite colors are purple and blue, just like me. But you all aren't here to hear about my humble life, so here is a recipe on delicious zucchini bread!

Zucchini Bread 

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream (I used light french vanilla fruit dip instead and it came out very good!)
• 2 cups shredded zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (we did not use any since we have none)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, beat together the sugar and oil. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Blend this mixture into the flour mixture, alternately with the sour cream; stir just to combine. Fold in the zucchini and nuts; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 80 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. And then voila, a masterpiece! :)

PS: I feel it important to tell that you do not drain the zucchini juice! This juice is what helps keep the bread moist so unless you like dry bread, DON'T DO IT!

God Bless and have a great day!

Brookie

Recipe from allrecipes.com

Dear Readers,

          I am going ahead right now and apologizing in case I do not post often in the near future. A lot of things are going on around here and I might even not have time to check my emails! So, I'm going to give you all a huge dosage on this post to make up for it. :)

Chicken Corn Chowder

This recipe is great for quick meals and is loved by all chicken lovers! 

Here are the ingredients:

6 slices bacon, diced 

1/2 cup diced celery 

2 cups potatoes, small dice 

1 cup diced onion 

1/2 cup diced carrot 

3 tablespoons flour 

2 1/2 cups chicken broth 

1 teaspoon Creole seasoning or seasoned salt 

1 cup corn kernels 

1 1/2 cups half-and-half 

1 1/2 to 2 cups diced cooked chicken 

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes 

salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

Fry bacon in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; remove to paper towels to drain. Add butter to bacon drippings, if necessary, to make 3 tablespoons. Add celery, potatoes, onion, and carrot. Sauté, stirring constantly, until onion and celery are tender. Stir in flour until well incorporated. Add chicken broth and seasoning or seasoned salt, stirring to blend well. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Cover and simmer for 12 minutes. Add the diced chicken and corn; simmer for 7 minutes longer, until vegetables are tender. Add half-and half and tomatoes. Heat through and taste. Add salt and pepper, as needed. 

Serves 4 to 6.

Movie Review: The Secret World of Arrietty

From the makers of Spirited Away and Ponyo, The Secret World of Arrietty is a story full of vibrant colors and adventure. This Japanese cartoon has captivated the imaginations of people of all ages as Arrietty takes the audience on a ride through her special world. I was rather delighted in this film, and in fact surprised since I imagined it might be rather boring. However, while I was watching I became fascinated with the film just as much as the six year old next to me. This movie is sweet and super adorable, and some parts almost made me cry! I give it five stars, for creativity, fun, and a movie worth watching again and again! And plus, there are no parts where you have to worry about closing your eyes or leaving the room! A clean and fun film!   

Book Review: Sierra Jensen Series by Robin Jones Gunn

Although it has been a while since I personally read the book, it is one of my all time favorite christian book series! This series is about a young christian girl as she struggles growing up in her late teen years and following God's plan for her. I don't want to spoil it for some of you if I talk too much about it but all I can do is recommend it! So you all should probably check out your local library for it! (i actually tried to find it in mine and they did not have it! If you experience this problem, you will mots likely have to buy it or sneak into Barnes and Nobles and read a few segments to decided if you like it.)

Verse of the Week:

^{Matthew 6:26 KJV "}Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" 

To me, this verse helps me to realize to put my trusts in Christ alone. Only then will I feel comfort and peace. And I hope you all will too :)

A Short Segment of my Writing :)

The sun slowly rose over the green hills of Viola, Tennessee. Willow trees dripped rich dew onto the grass below and robins began to sing their songs inside their carefully made beds. The joys of spring began to awaken as young Abigail sat on her favorite tree stump watching the horizon. Her rich brown hair was hanging loose on her shoulders, protecting her neck from the chilling breeze. She wrapped herself tightly in her blue robe and dug her toes into the moist earth. After studying the horizon for a few brief moments, she took out her supplies needed to fulfill her mission. She set up a blank canvas and positioned it slightly to the right. She fixed her palette of paints in her left hand and pulled out a hand carved paintbrush made by her. She gracefully handled her paintbrush with ease as she began her portrait of her most treasured sight. Reds, oranges, and hints of purples were flowing under the artist’s care.

She dragged the brush lightly on the paper to give an outline of her beloved star and wiped the artistic tool on a rag to clean off the old paint. She began to shade in where the great willows were to lean over. Big magnificent trees they were, she marveled to herself, and her painting gave them justice of their splendor. Depth was shown within each stroke of their true nature. Not a cloud was in sight, she thought to herself in glee as she painted the sky as it truly was without those annoying, white, puff balls. The artist inside of her took control of her thoughts and movements as she painted the scene as if nothing else compared to its importance. A bit of orange here, a trace of yellow there, and a couple of dabs for the leaves were the girl’s only thoughts. A tranquil lake owned a part of the picture, willow trees the other, but what was the main object of the whole tableau was the golden sun that shone its head slowly over the horizon. She gave her all on this subject, adding different shades of yellows and gold to show its true radiance.

Its rays of light shined on the greens hills, the dew covered willows, the singing birds; everything that was displayed in her portrait was drenched in the warm rays of the precious star. The long drapes of leaves that curtained the willows looked so detailed and dainty that an observer would have thought it was a photograph of some kind.

A voice awakened her out of her trance and she realized someone was calling her name in the wind. She quickly stuffed her tools back in her knapsack in earnest and held her canvas protectively under her arms. “Coming!” she called back as she ran past the lake, the willow trees, and away from her cherished horizon. A rather large brick house came into view. Ivy vines a plenty ran up its walls and wrapped around the colossal white columns. Abigail’s beloved balcony could be seen above the columns, the best place for an impressive view of her esteemed abode.  A white picket fence surrounded the house and a few acres of plentiful land which the domestic equidaes cantered to and fro. As she approached the house, she saw who had called her name.  A petite woman in a brown floral apron stood on the porch, holding a bowl of oatmeal to the barefoot girl.

Ohhh! Left you all a cliff hanger huh? :)

Hope you have a blessed week!

Brookie

Short Post for Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day everyone! Hope y'alls was great and that you told your mothers how much you appreciate them for all that they do! This morning we celebrated mother's day with breakfast for her and some gifts. She really enjoyed the blender and popcorn machine my dad and brother got for her. (Of course I was the one to give them a hint about some things for the kitchen. Men can never live without women heehee.) Sadly, it just had to be raining all day today so mother's day seemed kind of...dreary. Anyways, today we went to the service at our church and the Pastor spoke on the topic "Beauty". On how inward beauty is the most glamorous of all compared to outward beauty. True, it is important to take care of your outward image such as shampooing your hair, brushing your teeth, washing your face, and etc., but the main idea was not to be so consumed in taking care of your outward beauty. What defines a woman as beautiful is her personality, her kindness and how she wishes to follow in Christ. A christian woman's main focus is to be perfecting her inward beauty, and not only can this be applied to just women but also to men. Everywhere you see that man's main focus is self image. Face lifts, botox, muscle toning, and much else, are ways to improve one's "appearance". But these things are not true beauty. They fade away in time and eventually it all boils down to the person's soul and who they are before they apply make-up and adorn themselves in fine clothing and jewelry. So, whenever you wake up in the morning and look yourself in the mirror, are you wishing for a better image or are you glad that God allowed you to live another day and praise Him for all the things He has done?

How to make a Twist Bracelet

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a wonderful Thursday so far! Today I completed my last writing test and I made a perfect 100! Although I'm going to miss the class, I will continue to write anyways. For today's entry, I decided to post something that I hope to make soon. They are called Friendship Twist Bracelets and are very adorable! They make nice gifts and are easy on the wallet. But first I want to talk about something I learned from my devotionals today. In John chapter 13 I learned that Jesus calls us all to be servants to one another as he washes his disciples feet. If the Son of God can humble himself to wash the dirty feet of his followers, how much so should we humble ourselves? He then tells his disciples that one of them is going to betray him. Imagine how the disciples felt as they questioned among themselves! They were wondering if they themselves would betray their Lord. However they all soon found out who the betrayer was as Jesus gave the man, Judas Iscariot, a piece of sop or bread to him. Judas soon left after the food was given to him, to fulfill the prophecy spoken in the old testament. Jesus then tells Peter that he will deny him three times before the cock crows. Peter of course says he will never would deny his Lord; even saying he would die for Him. This chapter presents three different events that are very important in the ministry and life of Jesus. You can read if you like or if you do not have a Bible then check out www.biblegateway.com  

Have a blessed day! And below are some instructions and materials for the bracelets.

Materials:

3 or more strands of Thread each 30in. Any type of thread will work, but it's easier to make the bracelet with thinner string because it makes a longer bracelet. You can add more or less string to fit your wrist. If you are going to use more than 3 strings, I suggest cutting the string longer.

Instructions: 

1. First, tie the three strings together with a knot at the top. Leave about 2"in. of extra string above the knot so you can use it to tie the bracelet later.

2. Next, hold your strings together (or tape them to a flat surface) and twist them clockwise. Keep twisting them until the twist is 17"in. long, with the extra string under it not twisted.

3. Hold the end of the twist with one hand (not including the extra string below it), and put a finger from your other hand in the middle of the twist and fold the twist in half.

4. Hold the top knot and extra strings on the bottom together. Take your finger out of the twist and the twist will twist around itself. If the twist (around itself) kinks or stops, lightly pull on the looped end of the bracelet where you had your finger before. Don't pull too tightly, or it will mess up the bracelet.

5. Tie the extra ends with a knot at the top of the bracelet. To put on the bracelet, open the loop (on one end of the bracelet) and pull the loose strings through it.

Note: The picture above is not mine. All the information above is not mine either. I found these instructions on http://friendship-bracelets.net/tutorial.php?id=517

First Entry!

Hence the title, this is my first entry. Very creative isn't it? Anyways, my name's Brooke and I am a homeschooler. I hope to be a really good cook (but not a famous one! just one that doesn't cause the smoke alarm to go off) :) , publish a book (I am currently working on one and I might put some segments on here and see what you all might think), and maybe even have a good blog! (if not, I just really want to accomplish the first two!)  I'll mostly write a lot of different things, from stories to recipes to even putting some photography on here or even reviewing on some movies and books. And I'll try my best to set a time each week so I can post more blogs! But for my first entry, I wanted to offer you all a really good recipe and my favorite bible verse: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. This verse rings true in my life, for without Jesus Christ I would not be where I am at today! Choosing my favorite bible verse for me is tough, there are just so many good ones! And now, here is a recipe that I know is very amazing! (or for some friends out there, fantastic! I know it can't do any tricks) ;)

Cherry Crisp

2 cans of cherry pie filling with one butter cake mix, then 1 1/2 to 2 sticks of butter sliced all over the top. Bake at 350 for 45 min to one hour. 

And that's it! This is probably one of the easiest recipes I know! And so good with vanilla ice cream! :)

Have a blessed day!

Brookie